5th Annual Brickmania South Florida LEGO® Competition

COOPER CITY, Fla. - Jan. 25, 2014 - PRLog -- Students from schools around the South Florida Tri-County area are going to be attending the 5th Annual LEGO® building competition, "Brickmania - South Florida" hosted by Beth Emet Elementary School in Cooper City.

Students ages 4-14 will build individual or team creations from Lego bricks at home and bring them in to the event for judging.  Judging will be based on the student's or team’s own creative designs and not from kits.
This year’s theme for team entries is MINECRAFT, an online exploration and survival game based on building blocks. Contest age groups for individual entries are divided in to five divisions:

Pre-K- Nature (buid on site)
K-1- Take flight
2-3-  Food glorious food
4-5-  Wonders of the world
6-8-  Fantasy

Individual and team designs will be judged by a panel of judges from the community, including educators, engineers and more. Cash and gift card prizes will be awarded to 1st place winners in each division for Elementary and Middle School. Scholastic book Prizes will be awarded to the top Pre-K winners.

Attendees and their families will enjoy a variety of displays including robotics demonstration, science activities, brain teasers, math challenging sections and many LEGO fun activity tables for the youngest audience.  In addition, families will also have plenty of other activities to do around the contest including delicious Food Trucks, Bounce Houses, Music and more.  Just a great family day!

Lego building, for generations, has been loved by children and adults because of the limitless creation capabilities that are proven to be of great developmental benefit to young minds. They promote excellent problem-solving and technical skills, developing an important inner confidence and team-building abilities without losing the larger picture of fair play and fun.
"There is also evidence that complex block-play is linked with advanced math skills in later life." As mentioned in Parenting Science (http://www.parentingscience.com/toy-blocks.html) article.

"With the focus on STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) concepts and activities, Brickmania inspires and cultivates young minds to create works of art while integrating engineering design and new software tools" said Allison Antevy, one of the event coordinators and parent of young participants.

"Brickmania provides an opportunity of expression for young dreamers and doers - those rare individuals that ultimately transform society and the world." said Dr. Barry Issenberg, Director of the Michael S. Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education at the University of Miami

Brickmania is sure to invigorate the senses of all participants with activities, demos, great food, music, a bake sale, bounce house and more!  We hope to see you on February 9th from 1-4pm at Beth Emet Elementary School in Cooper City.  To Register for the Competition, be a Sponsor or join the judging panel and for more information, please visit Bricks4Kidz (http://www.bricks4kidz.com/florida-davie-weston/brickmania/) or call 954-680-1882.  A portion of the proceeds is donated to University of Miami Nova Southeastern University Center for Autism and Related Disabilities.  Thank you to the generous sponsors of Brickmania South Floridaincluding Bricks4Kids, University of Miami Gordon Center for Research in Medical Education, Learning Express Pembroke Pines, Waste Management, Masel Urology Center, Bank United

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